closed eye, open heart

Today was wonderful. We got back from Jordan (awesome time getting to learn what a real mosque is like dressed in head-garb and black dress, visiting the Jordan River where Christ was most likely baptized, crossing border crossing after taking quite some time to get from Jordan to Israel, and many wonderful hours sleeping on the bus) late today after doing a great day of traveling and I was able to grab a clean, water, fresh veggie meal before going to the Bible Land's Museum. IT WAS AWESOME! We were told that we'd be able to make it through the entire museum in a little less than an hour.... NOT SO! We went through a tour of Ancient Music for about an hour - it was phenomenal hearing and seeing so many artifacts from before I could ever think. Musical artifacts from Ancient Mythology, Ancient Cultures, Ancient Religions genres. We discussed the lyre, double flute, cymbals, drums (which were typically played by women because they represent the cycles of life and women are so intricately involved in the cycles of life, months, birth), harp, and such wonderful instruments as that... oh! and the shofar (reminds me of the didjeridoo)! We talked of Eros and Apollo and Pan and the Pan-flute. Emily Ward, Keola, and I were on fire afterwards with excitement. I'm going to go into the Old City and look for somewhere that I can get inexpensive bedouin, desert music/folk music. We walked by a beautiful Bat Mitzvah on our way up to the 2nd floor of the museum and it was so neat looking! I would love to have a Bat Mitzvah with the beautiful hot pink, dancing all night, beautiful dresses - wonderful way to come of age! The museum was wonderful with so many interesting things that I could have stayed an hour longer... except closing time was at 9:30 and at got out of there at 9:32pm. The sherut back ride back was a trip and a half needless to say. With 10 of us in it, the guy had black lights going, techno "holding out for a hero"... and I'm in Jerusalem? It was so so amazing! We were dancing and having quite some fun with the cab driver just smiling and enjoying our enjoyment. Needless to say it was quite the night. And needless to say I learned something tonight. If life is really going to be appreciated you have to just go for it. Enjoy every minute with an eye closed to all around that might scorn, judge, or impede you from feeling that joy. With an heart open be willing to experience everything. Why else do we humans willingly commit ourselves to such things as love, child rearing, or dreams if we don't realize that there's going to be pain that piggy-backs with those wonderful things. I realized I can't ever let someone else put me in the circumstances where I'm willing to sacrifice or pass by those dreams/ that love - the true vibrant experience can't be felt then.